In case readers missed it, we have something clever going on in the comments section of our Post-Ed Notes blog currently.

Writing critically of my “Thou shall not be Gay?” post, which asserts that homosexuals deserve equal rights and that the Bible is contradictory enough on the issue as to make comments by state Rep. Scott Renfroe wildly out-of-place under the gold dome, an unnamed commenter writes:

The fact is – and always has been – that homosexuality is a chosen “lifestyle” characterized by perverse sex acts. It is not being “gay” but, instead, is a sick, disgusting, and (particularly for males) an unhealthy way of living, which often leads to an early death. Being a sodomite is a perversion of nature and, yes, an abomination to God.

Regardless of how much “queers” and their sympathizers push this on to mainstream America, because of its vile nature, it will never be accepted. They should NOT receive special privileges and benefits because of the way they lead their lives. Even if a bank robber were “born” that way, it doesn’t mean they should be allowed to carry out their urges, and it certainly doesn’t mean that they would not be imprisoned for their crimes. Homosexuals should be treated similarly and NOT be the recipient of kindness and good will from a sane, reasonable, and moral people who know that homosexuality is wrong.

Another unidentified commenter, however, offers this delicacy, which riffs off the critical comment with a nod to the fact that the same Old Testament Renfroe quotes from also condemns the eating of shellfish.

The fact is – and always has been – that eating shellfish is a chosen “lifestyle” characterized by perverse consumption acts. It is not being “hungry” but, instead, is a sick, disgusting, and yucky which often leads to an early death if you have allergies. Being a shellfish eater is a perversion of culinary standards and, yes, an abomination to God.

Regardless of how much “shrimpers” and their sympathizers push this on to mainstream America, because of its vile and icky nature, it will never be accepted. They should NOT receive special privileges and benefits because of the way they eat their food. Even if a bank robber were “born” that way, it doesn’t mean they should be allowed to carry out their urges, and it certainly doesn’t mean that they would not be imprisoned for their crimes. People who eat shrimp and crab should be treated similarly and NOT be the recipient of kindness and good will from a sane, reasonable, and moral people who know that seafood without scales or fins is wrong and gross and yucky.

I think the exchange illustrates the insanity of the homosexuals-are-sinners argument quite wonderfully.

Predictably, some fairly narrow interpretations of the Bible entered the debate over whether Colorado lawmakers should extend health-care benefits to partners of homosexuals who work for the state.

I question the strategy.

Opponents of the proposal have an arguing point in that statewide voters in 2006 approved a ballot initiative that defined marriage in Colorado as between a man and a woman and rejected a measure that would have created domestic partnerships. (Though that’s not what’s being debated now, the precedent is worth considering.)

Sen. Ken Lundberg, R-Berthoud, summed it up neatly. “I find it breathtaking that here, just a little over two years later, the legislature is now saying, ‘Let’s ignore that and let’s go down the road the people of Colorado rejected.’”

I voted against the man-woman definition and for domestic partnerships, because I agree with the lawmakers calling fair treatment of homosexuals the Civil Rights issue of our time.

But Lundberg has a point, and the debate over whether to tinker with the rules for state employees now, during a time of state budget deficits, is one that could have been held on its own merits.

“Homosexuality is seen as a violation of this natural creative order, and is an offense to God,” Renfroe told lawmakers.

He said a lot more.

But begging Renfroe’s pardon, I must point out that there are plenty of Christians who accept homosexuality and they find sections in the Bible that allow them to do so.

So there must be some ambiguity in the mix (unless that little-known 11th commandment – “Thou shall not be gay.” – really does mean homosexuals and not just people who like to have fun).

OK, this is serious. No more jokes.

It seems completely reasonable to expect that elected officials on some level consider their personal and religious beliefs in crafting public policy. I don’t at all think that the notion of separation of church and state is so simplistic as to disregard any reliance on one’s personal belief system.

But those who represent us ought to be honest enough to admit that constituents think many different things. In this case, it’s fair to say that some Coloradans believe that homosexuality is a sin, and some Coloradans do not believe it is a sin.

And in my reading of the Bible (and no, I’m not a believer of any religion, but I did read A LOT of the Bible growing up in the Christian faith Renfroe apparently hails from) I see the example of Jesus as greatly muddying the waters on how to think about sinners. Seems to me that Christianity’s greatest role model did more than go out of his way to be accepting.

Bottom line: It’s not fair for Renfroe or anyone else to say they know what God really thinks on this issue. If God exists in the manner they believe, we’re dealing with a consciousness that humans can’t know, and His words on the question are in dispute. So in matters of public policy, the best we can do is craft fair and equal treatment for the populace and trust that God will handle us each accordingly in His own way.

I’ve known heterosexual couples whose union was a sin against humanity. I’ve known gay couples whose union would have been a sin against humanity to separate. The inverse is true of both sets of couples. It’s just none of my business, and it shouldn’t be for lawmakers.

So please, you good people of the General Assembly: Play nice and let God work it out on His own. Extend a level playing field to homosexuals.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.